^ARBLERS. 89 



southern counties. On the continent it seems 

 confined to Sweden and Norway, being replaced 

 in the central and more temperate parts by a 

 species closely resembling it, Motacilla alba, 

 (LiNN.) The eminent zoologist after whom our 

 species has been named, thus describes its manners, 

 in his " British Birds :" " It is ever in motion, 

 running with facility by a rapid succession of 

 steps in pursuit of its insect-food, moving from 

 place to place by short undulating flights, uttering 

 a cheerful chirping note while on the wing, alight- 

 ing again on the ground with a sylph-like buoy- 

 ancy, and a graceful fanning motion of the tail, 

 from which it derives its name. It frequents the 

 vicinity of ponds and streams, moist pastures, and 

 the grass-plots of pleasure grounds ; may be fre- 

 quently seen wading in shallow water, seeking 

 for various aquatic insects on their larvae ; and a 

 portion of a letter sent me lately by W. Ray- 

 ner, Esq., of Uxbridge, who keeps a variety of 

 birds in a large aviary near his parlour-window, 

 for the ple'asure of observing their habits, seems to 

 prove that partiality to other prey, besides aquatic 

 insects, has some influence on the constant visits 

 of Wagtails to water. ' I had also during the 

 summer and autumn of 1837 several Wagtails, 

 the Pied and the Yellow, both of which were very 

 expert in catching and feeding on minnows which 

 were in a fountain in the centre of the aviary. 

 These birds hover over the water, and, as they 

 skim the surface, catch the minnow as it ap- 

 proaches the top of the water, in the most dex- 

 terous manner ; and I was much surprised at the 

 wariness and cunning of some Blackbirds and 

 Thrushes, in watching the Wagtails catch the 



